What Can Lead to Dental Bridge Failure?
August 14, 2023

A dental bridge can close gaps left by missing teeth, leaving you with a smile that you can feel a lot more confident in. However, even the highest-quality dental prostheses have limited lifespans, and dental bridges are no exception. If you want to keep your bridge for as long as possible, then it’s important to be aware of things that could cause it to fail; below are 4 particularly serious threats to watch out for.
1. A Poor Oral Hygiene Routine
Brushing and flossing are essential for taking care of your natural teeth, of course, but they’re also extremely important when it comes to keeping your dental bridge safe. If you don’t keep the prosthesis clean, the teeth supporting it could be at risk for cavities, and an infection could occur in the nearby gum tissue. You need to maintain a healthy mouth if you want to avoid problems with your dental bridge, and that means practicing optimal oral hygiene every day.
2. A Lack of Support
Your dental bridge will be exposed to a lot of pressure every day whenever you bite and chew your food. If your bridge doesn’t have the support it needs, the pressure won’t be distributed correctly. As a result, your prosthesis will be more likely to break or come loose. Your dentist will check your teeth carefully to make sure that they’re in good enough shape to keep your bridge stable.
3. Bad Oral Habits
There are several habits that could cause major problems for natural teeth and replacement teeth alike. Some behaviors that might increase your risk for dental bridge failure include:
- Smoking or using any kind of tobacco product.
- Biting your nails when you get nervous.
- Chewing on ice to cool off.
- Trying to bite down on hard foods like peppermints or inedible objects like pen tips.
- Opening packages with your mouth instead of scissors.
Do you engage in any of these habits? If so, you should start thinking of ways you can put a stop to them so that you can keep your dental bridge safe.
4. Not Visiting the Dentist
It’s all too easy for small dental issues to lead to major complications because they went unchecked for too long. Your best option for catching these problems as quickly as possible is to have a professional examine your smile every six months. Your dentist will be able to confirm whether your dental bridge is still in good shape and whether there are any threats to your oral health that need to be addressed immediately.
About the Author
Dr. Warren G. Hoffman has been a General Dentist for more than 30 years. He belongs to the Florida Dental Association, the Sarasota County Dental Association, and other professional organizations. At his Sarasota practice, Parkway Ridge Dental, he can rebuild smiles using dental bridges made out of natural-looking, long-lasting materials. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hoffman, visit his website or call (941) 358-8830.